Chapter 11

Chapter Eleven

Natalie stared at her reflection in the bathroom mirror beneath lighting that was so bad she probably should have gotten ready outside using the mirror in her car.

God only knew what her make-up would look like under the lights the crew would no doubt bring. She could only hope she didn't end up looking like a clown on camera.

This was the first time she'd worn a full face of make-up since—she thought about it—probably since the last time she'd been interviewed on camera by Lucy Sunshine on WBNG News. When she'd made a complete fool of herself.

In her defense, that time she had been surrounded by dozens of extremely distracting ghosts who didn't understand the meaning of personal space .

She could only hope to do better this time. With a sigh, she turned off the switch for the crappy bathroom light fixture and headed toward the kitchen and the blissful aroma of fresh coffee.

Liam glanced up when she entered the room and shook his head. "I knew Harper would talk you into doing this thing."

She narrowed her eyes at him and walked to the coffee maker. " You look very nice today, Natalie. Oh, thank you, Liam. How sweet of you to notice," she said, holding the fictional conversation between them with herself.

His chair scraped across the floor and his arms came around her. With his hard body pressed against her back, he leaned his chin on her shoulder.

"You don't look nice . You look smoking hot. In fact, why haven't you ever worn this tight little skirt and sweater combo before?" he asked, his hands giving her hips a squeeze as he pulled her back tighter against him.

"Because these are my old work clothes from when I had to dress up every day." She gave a shudder as she remembered how much she hated that corporate job and how exorbitant her rent was so she could live in the city because of that job she hated.

"Well, maybe you can just wear it for me." His voice was low, husky, as he snuggled her neck.

"And maybe you're going to have to put a lid on your libido because the crew is going to be here any minute."

He groaned and released his hold on her. She took the opportunity to turn and face him, coffee mug in hand. "You're going to be there during the interview— Shit!"

She ducked as the damn bat swooped above her head. Then cursed again, ignoring Liam's frown as she glanced down at her sweater to see if the coffee that had sloshed out of her mug hit her or just the floor. Luckily, the liquid had missed her.

Annoyed at the world, she set down the mug, grabbed a paper towel and said, "And by the way, we have a ghost bat. That one from the other night must have died."

"Really? Cool."

She glared at Liam. "No. Not cool. If I can't keep myself from ducking every time it flies at my head they're going to lock me up."

Liam bobbed his head to the side. "At least then you wouldn't have to do the show."

"Ha-ha." She scowled. "And maybe I want to do the show."

"Do you?" he asked.

She considered that a moment, pawing through a mishmash of feelings. "Yeah. I think I do."

"Even though it could expose you?"

"Not gonna happen." Natalie shook her head, confident she could do both—expose Madame Letisha and not expose herself.

"We'll see." Liam lifted one brow along with his cup of coffee.

"Yes, we will," she declared—just as the banging on the front door threw her into a renewed sense of panic.

"Camera crew is here," Liam said with a grin.

"Yeah, great. Thanks." She paused before heading toward the front. "You'll be there with me?"

"Of course." He leaned in and dropped a quick kiss on her cheek then pulled back with a grin. "I still have to tell them I quit."